Books for children

Now out in paperback, The Scariest Thing Of All by Debi Gliori (Bloomsbury; €8.35) tells the story of a small rabbit’s fears.

Because he’s so tiny everything scares him. So when he hears the wail of bagpipes one evening he runs away. But there are scarier things beyond the rabbit warren. However, logic wins out when he discovers that what he was most scared of is not so scary after all. Debi Gliori’s atmospheric, fun illustrations are a joy. The perfect book to share at bedtime — especially with a child who might have night fears, for age three and upwards.

Luck by Roger McGough (Frances Lincoln; €7.10) draws the young reader into the world of poetry with humour and the playful juggling of words. Short and pithy, such as, Is a dinner lady/What cannibals eat for dinner?/ If you eat your words/ Will you grow thinner? Is a potholer a gunman who shoots holes in pots? McGough’s play with words is laugh-aloud fun, but, at the same time stamps the delight of poetry on young minds. Suitable for age nine and upwards.